Cycling Training and Physiology

Cycling Training and Physiology:

"This page is the index site for Cycling specific training, performance, and physiology articles."

Here's a few cool articles on training for mountain biking.

The Biking Desire

Lately the temperature and weather has been pretty mild... mild enough for anyone to go mountain biking around here. And I would like to do just that! Break out my bike and do some good riding....

If only it weren't for me being too darned busy these days and this season with all the commitments I have!...

Plus, it doesn't help that the very last ride of the season my gear levers became loose on the handlebars and I still need to find time before I ride again to secure them back on.

Hopefully the spring won't come around too late, as the winter has been a pretty mild one around here, and I will be able to get some decent riding in when I am not so bogged-down with work and other commitments.

Dwight Miller

Anti-Biking Conditions

Jenny's Training Log: mountain biking:

"The weather is getting colder so I probably can't bike outside much longer."

Yeah, it sure is beginning to get a bit too cold to to go out biking much anymore... or soon anyway at least... work on getting the last of it in before conditions are too bad to do much of anything... especially if up in northern regions where it'll soon be snowing!!

Dwight

Mastering Steep Riding

SuperCycling: "Conquer Steep Mountain Bike Climbs"

Check out this great article on climbing those steeps. Has several techniques for several different types of steeps that you may come accross on your mountain biking path.

Dwight

The UK's First Mtn Bike Trail In Park

Belfast Telegraph:

"A NEW mountain bike trail has opened in Craigavon - the first to be designed within a city park in the UK."

They're starting to get it now... The UK opened its first mountain biking trail around some of Northern Ireland's lakes - Craigavon's lakes. The trail is about 10 KM... of great riding.

Dwight Miller

Brushy Creek Lake Park, Texas

Sonny's Sabbatical: Monday still feels like Monday:

"The only real notable thing I did today was take out my mountain bike for the first time in weeks. What a great feeling! It was a beautiful day (upper 80's/lower 90's, scattered clouds). I went out to the trails at Brushy Creek Lake Park. If you live in & around Cedar Park, you've gotta try out this park. It's an amazing little gem, just north of 620 on Parmer Lane (on the northern fringe of Avery Ranch)."

If you want to check out a bike/park trail that someone did, and posted about in their blog in sort of a review - Check this one out. It's rather interesting to read... a real good post.

Dwight

Go Ahead Get A New Bike... But Before You Do

cantonrep.com:

"Buying a bike is no longer a matter of going into a store and loading one into the trunk. Decisions have to be made if you want a bike that is right for you."

If you're serious about getting serious with mountain biking (or even just biking in general)... or just are gonna get yourself a new bike... This is a must-read article about choosing the right bike for you!

It also includes some really good safety and maintenance tips which are very helpful.

Dwight

Mountain Bike Feaver

Bald Parrot: Mountain Rock 5200 in the house:

"I got it, I finally got it. After days and hours of waiting, I've finally gotten a mountain bike. It was rough the wait, real rough. People were taking bike trips everywhere, even through my town, but I was wheel-less. I'm even surrounded by bikes, there are three of them rusting behind my house, but the things are tiny as clown bikes. But yesterday, the bike shop guy drove up in his van with my shiny new Giant mountain bike. It was pouring out, but I couldn't resist, I threw on a pair of swim trunks and a plastic poncho that I found in a closet then set out on the bike trail that runs right by my house. And it was beautiful."

He's got it... that's the attitude... Mountain Bike Feaver....

Don't wanna be left out and can't get enough of it!!!

Dwight Miller

Gas Prices Killling You?

If the price of gas is becoming too much for you and you need to find a way to curb the costs consider this:

Take a bike, your mountain bike - or even a road bike if you have one - out more to travel places. Granted it may take you a little longer to bike to your destination. There are several ways to look at it. By biking places you are saving gas money, doing something good for the environment and getting a great workout. What better thing can you do for yourself and the environment!

So get your bike out there and go places... Save money on gas... Do something good for the environment... Get in better shape.... You deserve it!!!

Dwight Miller

Check It ALL Out First!

GoMountainBiking: mountain biking tours:

"When you decide on purchasing mountain biking tours online check out their returns policy. Many mountain biking tours sites offer no obligation periods with a guarantee of full refund of the purchase price if you return the goods in a satisfactory condition. "

What an excellent tip, for anyone buying.... Anything...

Dwight

Being Prepared: Clear Sunglasses?

Slow and Tired: Clear sunglasses?:

"That might not make sense... unless you own a pair. Shields would be a better term. Basically, they are like sunglasses (usually non-prescription) with clear lenses. In the mountain biking world, I've often found them very useful. I've used them most on night rides in mud. If you've ever caught a glob of mud in the eye on a fast singletrack descent, you'll know just how useful they can be. Other obstacles that can ruin a ride include, but are not limited to: branches, dirt, dust, and bugs"

Clear Sunglasses/Eye Shields could be very useful when freeriding or downhilling... or in those buggy situations... or whatever you might come accross that poses trouble to the unpretected eye!

Dwight

Trip It

The Lewis and Clark Bicycle Trail

Want to do a historic trail... or go nearly accross the country!

Do the Lewis and Clark Trail! This site has all the resources.

Wouldn't that be fun,

Dwight

Find It - Do It!

Search Rides

A most excellent site for finding great trails with your input on location, difficulty, environment, length and more!

Check it out

Dwight

Biking In National Parks

IMBA Signs Breakthrough Agreement with National Park Service:

"For the first time, National Park Service leaders in Washington, D.C., have formally recognized mountain biking as a positive activity, compatible with the values of our National Park system."

I just came accross this (though it is as of May 2, 2005) I thought I'd pass it on in case you didn't hear of it before.

The IMBA and the National Park Service signed a 5 year agreement to allow mountain bikers access to trails in the National parks.

See the full article for specific details.

Isn't that exciting!

Dwight Miller

Real Mountain Biking

IMBA - International Mountain Bicycling Association

If you haven't checked out the International Mountain Bicycling Association's website yet, and you are into mountain biking, then you are missing a lot!!

They have a ton of great resources (check out their 'Resources' menu), they also have a great trail tool (their 'Trailfinder').

Don't miss out on these excellent resources!

Check them out.

Dwight Miller

An Excellent Trailsite & This Blog

Trail Categories

Thought I'd start blogging again on the site!

I came across this site as I was doing some research, and thought it was as awesome site for you all to know about.

Strange thing is that this blog is starting to grow as a collection of great places to find trails. If there's anything you would like to know other than where trails are, then let me know... just leave a comment somewhere and I'll try to answer any of the questions I get.

What I might do if I start accmulating too many trail sites is I might review the sites and let you know a little more about them, or create a trail resource site for better reference. Let me know what you think about this idea.

For now I just keep making my postings, and hopefully more frequently than I have been - and mabye get some more of what you want in here.

Give me your feedback!

Dwight Miller

Get It?

new york mountain biking:

"Mountain biking is an exciting sport that involves riding bicycles anywhere off paved roads. it is roughly broken down into three categories: cross country, downhill, and free riding. However all mountain bikes have a somewhat similar look, knobby tires, large round tubing, and usually some sort of suspension or shock absorbers. Mountain biking can be done anywhere from a back yard to a gravel road, but the surface of choice is tight, twisting, hilly, rocky trails known as single track."

Thought this was an excellent description of mountain biking!

The very basic.

Dwight

Race or Not

Centre Daily Times | 07/31/2005 | 101 miles, 240 riders and one grueling race:

"'It's a very mental race,' she said as she lounged on the lawn at Coburn Park, her legs and bike shorts streaked with mud. 'There's a lot of times you're having an internal dialogue -- you're cheering yourself on, you're beating yourself up. And everyone you pass or passes you, they're all really supportive.'"

Though these types of races are very exciting and get you going on a degree that you normally won't get on a typical joy ride or outing on your bike, many of us can probably confess to that voice in our head being present.

When on a ride you have nothing but you, your bike, and the surroundings. You are constantly peddling and your mind is always meddling. You are keeping youself going and perhaps you are even working out your life.

This may be one of the reasons that so many people can find biking so enjoying... it offers the opportunity to think, while getting a great work-out at the same time

Dwight Miller

Site With It All

Mountain Bike Trail Information, Gear Review, and Photos || SINGLETRACKS.COM

This site has just about everything for the Mountain Biker!

Dwight

Keeping up with the Tour de France?

Tour de France 101: "I think its time for... Education time: the basics of Le Tour de France"

Get the run down of how the Tour de France works, and what it all means.